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07 Acts 2:37-41 - Peter's Pentecost Sermon: Application
Title: Peter’s Pentecost Sermon: Application
Text: Acts 2:37-41
FCF: We often struggle when faced with conviction.
Prop: Because those who repent and welcome the message of truth receive the Spirit, we too must repent and believe the gospel.
Scripture Intro:
[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 2.
Last week, Peter stood to respond to the questions and criticisms of the crowd who witnessed the pouring out of the Spirit of God upon the church.
Peter made a spectacular defense of Jesus the Nazarene being both the Messiah and the Lord of glory, which he said was proven by the prophetic words of David the Patriarch. He punctuated these statements indicting the Jews for piercing this One who was sent to save and rule them.
But last week, we kind of left things unsettled. We didn’t see Peter’s application and we didn’t see the crowd’s response. Today we will see just that and a bit more.
Let’s look at chapter 2, starting in verse 37. I’ll be reading form the Legacy Standard Bible today but you can follow along in the pew bible on page 1231 or in whatever version you prefer.
Transition:
Even though we will only cover 5 verses today, paradoxically, this sermon will be longer than last week’s which covered 22 verses. There are reasons for that – but all you need to know for now is that there is much here we need to uncover. Be sure to stick with me as well as you can this morning.
I.) Those convicted of sin can receive the Holy Spirit if they repent and believe on Jesus, so we must repent and believe the gospel. (37-39)
a. [Slide 2] 37 - Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart,
i. Luke says that when they heard this, when they heard that they were on the hook for piercing their Messiah and Lord, they were pierced to the heart. What does this expression mean?
ii. It means that they were deeply convicted. They were fearfully dismayed. They were wrecked. Fear and guilt overwhelmed them.
iii. Here is a question we must ask ourselves… did Peter’s mere words do this?
iv. Was Peter’s message especially moving?
v. In John 16:18, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit after He is glorified. He says that when the Spirit comes, He will convict the world.
1. To convict means to rebuke or reprove, it means to show the world to be in error. Showing it to be out of step with what is real or true. To convict is to prove beyond doubt that the world is wrong. But wrong about what?
2. Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and the judgment.
a. Concerning sin, the Spirit will reveal the depth of man’s sinfulness. It will be revealed to unbelievers how rebellious and utterly wretched they truly are before a Holy God.
b. Concerning righteousness, the Spirit will reveal the high and perfect standard that God requires for those He will accept into His Kingdom.
c. Concerning the judgment, the Spirit will reveal the truth about the judgment, that the Lord of glory will judge all men according to their deeds and all who are not found in the book of life will be cast into eternal death.
vi. Therefore, based on the teaching of the whole New Testament, we know what truly caused these Jews to be deeply affected by Peter’s sermon.
vii. It was not that Peter’s words here were especially powerful. Indeed, theology nerds could easily point out 5 or 6 key teachings about salvation that Peter omits.
viii. And although Peter does lay the charge of killing Jesus upon them – such an accusation might stir up anger as easily as it would stir up conviction. Such words could lead the proud to protest – “Was I the one that drove the nails in His hands and feet? Was I even in the crowd that day?”
ix. It is clear – that what has happened here – is the work of the Spirit of God to open the heart of the hearer to receive conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
x. But notice… they didn’t just feel bad. They weren’t simply distressed.
b. [Slide 3] And said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men, brothers, what should we do?”
i. Conviction of sin produces a desire to be vindicated. Conviction of righteousness produces a desire for grace. Conviction of judgment produces a desire for mercy.
ii. They ask the apostles – all of them – what should we do?
iii. Tell us is there anything we can do to escape the just rewards for our sins? Is there anything we can do to be pleasing to God?
c. [Slide 4] 38 – And Peter said to them, “Repent,
i. There is a movement today which would suggest that repentance is unnecessary to salvation.
ii. That you need not turn from sin in order to be saved.
iii. I have found that the reason this position is taken is because of an inaccurate understanding of repentance and what it means to believe or to have faith in Christ.
iv. In the New Testament, when people are called on to respond to the gospel, many times repentance and faith are used together. Several times only repentance is used – one of those times being right here in Acts 2. And several times only faith is used without repentance.
v. The most natural conclusion we can come to is that regardless of whether both terms are used, both terms are implied. Why? Because you cannot truly believe in the gospel without repenting of your sins and you cannot truly repent of your sins unless you truly believe the gospel.
vi. Repentance and Faith are two sides of the same coin. They are sides of the same command. This is the command to respond to the gospel. And both repentance and faith are gifts of God, given to enable us to be saved.
vii. Repentance though should be defined specifically, not because it can occur without faith, but because it expresses a particular side of faith.
viii. It is the faith that all our former ways, both of sin and self-righteous performance, are woefully inadequate to fulfill the demand of a Holy God upon our lives.
ix. Not only are they inadequate in and of themselves, but they are infinitely less than what Jesus the Messiah of God has offered as a substitute for us. He has both taken the penalty for sin and is perfectly and perpetually pleasing to the Father.
x. There is no amount of penance we can perform that is capable of dispelling the accumulated wickedness of our hearts, nor is there any amount of good works we can amass that would be near to the holy standard God demands.
xi. Repentance expresses the belief that compared to the person and work of Christ, I bring absolutely nothing of value to God whatsoever.
xii. Repentance is to turn from sin and self-righteousness.
d. [Slide 5] and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;
i. Although this statement can cause great confusion, when we understand what is being said here, we easily see Peter’s meaning.
ii. First, baptism is not a new concept to Jewish people. Not only did John the Baptist baptize many Jews prior to Jesus beginning his ministry, it was also common practice to baptize non-Jews who converted to Judaism. These individuals were called “proselytes.”
iii. Baptism then was synonymous to a change of direction. It meant to abandon one path and embrace another.
iv. John’s Baptism was for repentance and for the forgiveness of sins. As people were confessing their sin they were being baptized to signify and seal their washing away of the sins they confessed and are to walk out of the waters having abandoned those former ways.
v. John’s Baptism then on the surface doesn’t look that dissimilar from the baptism to which Peter refers. Except for two main differences.
vi. The first is that Peter commands that after repentance they should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
vii. What does it mean to do something in the name of another?
viii. It means to do it for the sake of another. Or in consideration of another. Or for the benefit of another.
ix. When we ask something in Jesus’ name, it is not with His authority that we ask it, rather we are asking God the Father to honor our requests based on His love for His Son. It is for His sake we ask these things. As He would answer His Son, we ask Him to answer us.
x. To be baptized for the sake of Christ then, is to be baptized or dedicated fully to the thing in which we are being baptized. Namely Jesus Christ.
xi. So that when we enter the waters of baptism in the name of Jesus, we enter them to identify with Him. We enter them to die to ourselves, to die to sin, to die with Him, to be buried and be risen again to walk in new life with Him living in us.
xii. And this entire baptism is for the forgiveness of our sins. Not in that entering into the raw sign do we somehow wash away sin itself, but rather the sign seals upon our hearts the reality that our sins are truly washed away for the sake of Christ for those who have called on His name. For His sake we have been forgiven.
xiii. What Peter says here then is not a works-based repentance and baptism that somehow leads to forgiveness, but rather the two-sided coin of repentance and faith demonstrated and sealed by the sacrament of baptism. A sacrament that both symbolizes and freshly applies the spiritual truth. That we have been washed clean by the blood of Christ. For we have been baptized for His sake.
xiv. Indeed, all who are baptized into Christ are baptized for His sake – for we are the reward for His Suffering. We are the bride he went through hell to secure.
xv. And it is only for Christ’s sake that any of us shall be passed over on that day of judgment.
e. [Slide 6] and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
i. This is the second aspect of this baptism which differs from John’s baptism.
ii. The construction of possession here could be read in several different ways.
iii. But the clear way intended by context is that the Holy Spirit is the gift.
iv. All who are baptized for the sake of Christ for forgiveness of sins will be given the gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
v. Notice here a precious truth. Even though every single one of them present that day have inherited the national shame of crucifying their own Messiah and Lord…
vi. They too can call on the name of that same Jesus and be saved.
vii. But is this promise only for those present today? Is this a one-time offer? What about friends and family back home? What about their children and those yet to be born?
f. [Slide 7] 39 – For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off
i. The gospel call is unlimited.
ii. Peter emphasizes here that the gospel is to be given to every Jew everywhere. Even if they have never lived in Judea their entire life. Even if they have never been to the temple. Even if they have never gone to a synagogue, the gospel call is to be given to all Jews.
iii. You might balk at these statements. Wait a second Chris- Peter doesn’t say anything about it only being for Jews here.
iv. Yes, but in the context of Acts it is quite clear that Peter has not quite understood the complete scope of the gospel call. Here at Pentecost, he is talking to Jews and anticipates the gospel being the next step in Judaism. Meaning that the most likely scenario would be Jews being baptized for the sake of Jesus and into the final and best version of Judaism.
v. For our purposes, knowing what we know, and being who we are, we can take Peter’s words at their fullest value, even if he didn’t mean them that way.
vi. The gospel call is unlimited. It must be given to every single boy, girl, woman and man regardless of age, ethnicity, mental capacity, social status, religion, language, political party, or any other ways we divide ourselves.
vii. That is our human responsibility. The gospel call goes out to all. But…
g. [Slide 8] As many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
i. This is not a quote but rather an allusion. In Joel 2, where Peter ended earlier, he ended in the middle of a verse.
ii. All who call on the name of Yahweh will be saved… even among the survivors whom Yahweh calls.
iii. What does this teach us?
iv. The gospel call we give is unlimited. But the effectual call God gives… is particular.
v. Again, we are confronted with God’s Sovereignty juxtaposed against human responsibility.
vi. Peter makes it clear that the gospel call must ring out to all people.
vii. But as a subset of that group, as the call is given there is another call that God gives.
viii. Romans 8 tells us of this call. Whom the Lord predestines he also calls, whom he calls he justifies, whom he justifies he glorifies.
ix. The gospel call is given to all according to the responsibility of men to issue that call. But the Lord ultimately determines whom He summons to Himself.
x. This does not eliminate our responsibility to issue the call to all. Rather it empowers our gospel call to reach those whom the Lord is calling unto Himself.
xi. In this we maintain that the gospel results are not up to us. Instead, it is merely bearing witness to any and all what the Lord has done.
xii. The Lord will call to Himself those whom He wills.
h. [Slide 9] Passage Truth: So, Luke to Theophilus explains the true nature of what man can do when he experiences conviction. What can man do? How can man escape conviction? How can man escape the just rewards for His sin? How can man hope to be acceptable to a Holy God? What shall we do? Luke through Peter confirms to Theophilus that there is a way to be forgiven and to receive the gift of the Spirit of God. Even for those who have sinned gravely. They must repent and they must be washed in and raised up into Jesus Christ.
i. Passage Application: Theophilus then must renew His commitment, his allegiance, his trust and his hope in Christ alone for salvation. He must renew his abandonment of His former sins and his former efforts to earn the good pleasure of God. He must instead fall on the mercy of God and depend on and submit to the Lord Jesus Christ, for it for Christ’s sake that he has been baptized into a new life.
j. [Slide 10] Broader Biblical Truth: Is this not the sum of the whole of the gospel? Is this not the sharpest edge of the sword of the Word of God? Does this not cut to the bone? Such teaching is not relegated to the New Testament either. What is Israel called to do when God threatens them with judgment? Are they not called to repent? Are they not called to trust and obey God? God has always offered the hope of forgiveness and His aid to those who repent and trust Him to the extent that they obey Him.
k. Broader Biblical Application: So, CBC have you felt the sting of conviction? Has the Spirit of God pricked you to the heart? Are you feeling the weight of your sin and the promise of judgment? Are you not fearful of the Lord of glory returning to judge you for your deeds? Do you not see the Holy and perpetually perfect obedience the Lord requires for those who would enter His Kingdom? Do you wonder what you must do? You must realize that this could never be you. Would you pay penance for the rest of your days and would you do good works for a thousand lifetimes you would never be perfect as God is perfect. You would never be Holy as God is holy. You would never conform to the standard that God has set for any to enter into His Kingdom. What should you do? Turn from your sin and your self-righteousness. Turn from your natural belief that you are good and able to please God. Turn from your unbelieving family and friends. Turn from your culture. Turn from your worldview. Turn from your values. And swear allegiance, dependance, and submission to Jesus Christ alone. Then and only then will you escape the coming judgment of a Holy God.
Transition:
[Slide 11 (blank)] What a glorious promise! Not only is this what we should do, but we will receive the Spirit of God if we do this. Amazing. But what will they do with what Peter said? And if they do it, will God honor Peter’s words?
II.) Those who come out from the world and welcome the truth are added to the church, so we must repent and believe the gospel (40-41)
a. [Slide 12] 40 – And with many other words he solemnly bore witness and kept on exhorting them saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation!”
i. Notice that Peter did not win them over immediately.
ii. What lessons might we learn from this?
iii. They were pierced to the heart. They were ready to act. They wanted to be rescued from their certain doom.
iv. Nevertheless, the exhortation to repentance and belief on Jesus and the promise of forgiveness and the Spirit… was not enough.
v. Truly the hearts of men are depraved, hardened to the gospel of Christ. The unbelief of natural man is strong against even the message of the truth spoken with signs and wonders.
vi. Their conviction produced in them a desire to be forgiven but not a desire to repent. Not a desire to devote their lives to Jesus. They did not want the punishment of their sin – but had no intention of following Christ so easily.
vii. Nevertheless, Peter endured. He continued with many words bearing witness to them of all that Christ had done and accomplished for them.
viii. And kept warning them, exhorting them, telling them what?
ix. To be saved from this crooked generation.
x. Be saved from those who are telling you that you can be righteous enough. Be saved from those who teach that God doesn’t care about your sin. Be saved from those who tell you that this life is all there is and there is no resurrection. Be saved from those who emphasize nation over deity.
xi. Abandon the wisdom of this age, the sins your cling to, and the righteousness you are trying to earn.
xii. Instead run to Christ.
b. [Slide 13] 41 – So then, those who had received his word
i. This little phrase clues us into a couple things.
ii. First, not all who were present there with the apostles responded to the gospel.
iii. We will talk about the numbers in a bit but saying “those who responded” indicates that there were others and perhaps several more who did not respond.
iv. Secondly, responding is receiving the words that were preached.
v. To receive here means to welcome or to recognize, or to acknowledge. It describes those who have not only felt conviction for sin, but were convinced of the truth of Peter’s words.
vi. Although much of salvation is a mystery to us, what we do know is that God gifts both repentance and faith to us. This means that God enables those whom He is calling to respond to His call.
vii. But again, that does not eliminate the human responsibility to respond. And that is what we see here. We see humans welcoming and heartily receiving the message of the truth.
c. [Slide 14] Were baptized;
i. We assume of course this is the baptism that Peter spoke of earlier.
ii. They are baptized into Christ, for the sake of Christ. A water baptism symbolizing and sealing the spiritual truth of being washed and forgiven of sin.
d. [Slide 15] And that day there were added about three thousand souls.
i. Here we see the effect of the gospel on this crowd.
ii. First, we see that about 3000 souls were added that day. To put this in perspective, a conservative estimate is that on any given Pentecost during the first century, there were no doubt in excess of 200,000 people in the city of Jerusalem. Some estimates go as high as half a million.
1. Considering the tight streets and where they could have reasonably been heard by a large crowd, we know that many in the city that day would not have heard the message of Peter.
2. Nevertheless, it is likely that 3000 was a drop in the bucket of those who heard the message Peter gave.
3. I don’t say this to cheapen the work of God at all. Please don’t misunderstand.
4. Instead, I say this because many modern evangelistic endeavors are designed to try to replicate Pentecost. People expect thousands of people to come to Christ in these evangelistic endeavors.
5. God is not beyond doing this – but putting Pentecost into perspective helps us to affirm that even in this powerful moving of the Spirit where many are saved… the narrow way is still found by very few and the broad way is pursued by the vast majority.
6. Even at this Pentecost… even with the Spirit’s empowering… this is still true.
iii. Secondly, the terms “souls” and “were added” need defining.
1. Souls is an interesting term because it can mean both soul and life.
a. Oftentimes it refers to the immaterial part of man inherited by God breathing life into Adam.
b. Man is both body and soul.
c. And soul seems to be the truest part of him, although neither will be eternally separated from one another for any human being.
d. Is this a confirmation that these people were genuinely saved? It seems to be.
2. Were added – were added to what?
a. The book of life? No, it cannot be the book of life for the names are already written in that book. The scriptures never speaks of someone’s name being added to the book of life. They are either there or they aren’t.
b. To God’s family? This could be. Before we are converted or justified, we are children of Satan, of our father the devil. We are in the family of the serpent. God adopts us out of that family and into His when we are untied to Christ by faith.
c. More likely this means that they were added to the assembly of 120 believers. They joined the visible church. Which has now grown by 2,500% in one day.
e. [Slide 16] Passage Truth: Lukes second point, which serves as a fulfillment of his first point, shows us those who came out from their own generation and welcomed the gospel message, were saved and added to the disciples. And although Luke does not say it overtly – they received the Holy Spirit.
f. Passage Application: So Theophilus must endure in his faith having received the Spirit himself. He must continue to repent and believe the gospel as he did when he first heard it and all the more now that he has heard Luke’s ongoing testimony of its truth.
g. [Slide 17] Broader Biblical Truth: Is this truth found in scripture? We see many times the truth offered. Those who repent and trust and obey the Lord are rescued. Do we see this happen? Adam and Eve are the first examples. Have you ever considered the fact that Adam named his wife Eve, which means mother of all living, right after God said that he would return to the dust of the earth when he dies? God promised before that a seed that would be from the woman that would crush the head of the serpent. In faith, Adam believed God’s promise to send one who would give life. Who would break the curse of death. Adam believed it and stamped his belief on his wife, who would be the instrument God used for his faith to be made sight. Then God clothed them in animal skins. He cast aside their inadequate coverings and gave them a new covering. My friends… God is faithful to forgive, restore, and transform all who repent and trust and obey Him. It has been true since the first two humans fell… when there was only one law to keep. And it is true now when so many are hardened to gospel.
h. Broader Biblical Application: So, CBC this does not stand as a vague promise from which we have not seen any fruit. Instead, we see time and time again this happening. God is faithful to forgive, restore, and transform all who turn from their sin and self-righteousness, and call on the name of Jesus. All who depend on Him and submit to His authority. All who cry out to Him in desperate dependance… These are the ones who will receive the Spirit of God and be freed to live for Him. Both now and forevermore. Is the Lord calling you today? Repent my friends. And rely on and swear allegiance to Jeus Christ alone.
Conclusion:
So, CBC what have we learned today and how then shall we respond?
[Slide 18] Luke has given two truths. They are, once again, correlating truths. The first expresses a promise that the second fulfills. The first is that all who desire to free themselves of the conviction of the Spirit of God must repent of their sin and swear allegiance to and dependance on Christ. If they do this, they will receive the gift of the Spirit of God along with forgiveness. The second truth shows that those who did reject their former lives and receive with joy the truth of Christ crucified for sinners, did that day receive the Spirit and join the family of God. Combining these truths together we see that God’s gift of the indwelling of His Spirit, His very presence – is given to those who turn from their sin and their self-righteousness and depend on and devote themselves fully to Jesus Christ and Christ alone.
[Slide 19] So, for us how then shall we respond? All must respond generally in the same way. We must repent and we must call on the name of Jesus. For those who are already believers, this must be a continual repentance and a continual call. For those who are not yet converted – they must sever their ties to sin and this world. They must separate themselves from their allegiance to themselves, their earthly hopes and dreams, and must pledge their unconditional surrender and allegiance to Jesus and Jesus alone. And they must do this publicly with the sign and seal of baptism.
Based on this truth and this application for us CBC, there are several ways that this message impacts us today.
1.) [Slide 20] The first way it impacts us is in our presentation of the gospel to a dying world. My assertion is that based on this text, presenting the gospel accurately to sinners is incredibly important.
a. Peter’s message correlated perfectly to the message of Joel.
b. Peter’s message correlated perfectly to the prophets of the Old Testament.
c. Peter’s message correlated perfectly to the message of John the Baptist and Jesus Himself.
d. We should be very careful not to change our presentation of the gospel message, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
e. While it would be impossible for me to address every single erring gospel presentation, I can point out a few poplar ones that miscommunicate the gospel call.
i. The gospel call is not summarized in asking Jesus to save us from hell or even from sin.
1. This would be an example of an insufficient call to the gospel.
2. Where is repentance?
3. Where is the Lordship of Christ?
4. Did Peter instruct the people to ask Jesus to save them? Or to simply believe that He is the Savior?
ii. The gospel call is not summarized by asking Jesus into our heart.
1. Indeed, this is worse than the first because it means almost nothing.
2. What does it mean to have him in our heart in the first place?
3. Where is repentance?
4. Where is submission and allegiance?
5. Further compounding the problem, this message is often given to children. I’m not sure I could quickly explain what it means to have Jesus in my heart… much less a child to explain what exactly that means.
iii. The gospel call should not include a call to admit that you are a sinner.
1. In some ways this is a good thing to call someone to recognize.
2. But Peter did not ask the people there if they would admit they were sinners. He simply declared that they were sinners.
3. Admitting that you are a sinner is not the same as repenting of your sin.
4. The gospel does not ONLY call us to recognize that we have failed the Lord or that we are guilty of sin.
5. What is so drastic about the gospel call is that is calls us to HATE our sin and to abandon it.
6. Admitting I am a sinner is easy and can be done by any natural man. Many who are unbelievers admit they are not perfect. For no one is perfect.
7. Turning from sin is a gift of God, a supernatural ability that God gives to those whom He is calling to Himself.
8. Therefore, we should stop telling sinners to admit they are sinners. Instead, we should tell them to turn from their sin.
iv. The gospel call should not put an equal’s sign between faith and agreeing to facts.
1. Belief on Christ is not the same as believing what has been said of Christ.
2. Belief on Christ or in Christ includes believing what has been said about Christ but also dependance on and submitting to Him as Lord and Savior.
3. Oftentimes when we issue the gospel call we inadvertently lead sinners to believe that if they ascribe to a certain set of facts then agreeing to those facts saves them. This sells them a false gospel.
4. For Demons too believe the same facts that we tell sinners to believe.
5. Instead, it is not the mere belief that these facts are true – but rather that these facts are what we hang our entire eternal lives upon. That we have abandoned our lives and crucified ourselves in order to follow Christ no matter the cost.
6. This is what it means to believe in Christ. It is to depend on Him for salvation and submit to Him as Lord. With no exceptions.
v. Generally speaking If the gospel call is easy for the sinner, simple for the sinner, or demands little of the sinner – then you are probably doing it wrong.
vi. The gospel call is a call to radically separate yourself from all you hold dear and fully and completely surrender to Christ. If the people we share the gospel with do not sense the heavy cost of the gospel call… it is likely they have not heard a true gospel call.
2.) [Slide 21] Not to undo what I have just said but to be sure we do not pendulum swing too far, while recognizing that the way we issue the gospel call is important, we must also recognize that God is calling with us as we call.
a. Therefore, even our messy and broken presentations of the gospel can be used by God to effectively call His own to Himself.
b. Perhaps if you think back to the moment that you responded to the gospel, you would say that you responded to one of the gospel calls I have pointed out was lacking.
c. Experience does not invalidate the truth. The call you were given was not proven correct simply because you repented and believed on Christ through it.
d. Instead, it verifies the truth of this passage that God is the one who ultimately is effectually calling His own to Himself through the gospel call of His church.
e. I hope that this gives you comfort, knowing as you look back on your gospel calls that you have no doubt given a few stinkers and a few clunkers.
f. Do not be discouraged. God has not given the fate of those who would respond solely to our call.
g. Make your gospel call as close to the call of the scriptures as you can – but know that God is the one speaking through you when people respond with God-given repentance and faith.
My three final applications to the text today are of the utmost importance. Not that the previous two were inconsequential, but to these three I cannot impress upon you too little comfort and too little warning. If you have paid no attention up to this point… start now or may God be merciful to you.
3.) [Slide 22] Water baptism is neither optional nor a matter of convenience or preference.
a. Baptism has always been intricately bound to the gospel. The instance of a person who is saved but not baptized would be a completely foreign concept in the New Testament.
b. Many times, we see people in Acts immediately baptized upon confessing Christ. Today, for fear of inadvertently authenticating a false convert, we tend to look for spiritual fruit to reflect a real conversion to Christ.
c. But this should not indicate to any that water baptism of believers is optional.
d. The solemn truth is that baptism is a sign and seal of the spiritual truth of identification with Christ and the washing away of sin. It both symbolizes the spiritual truth and seals that truth on the hearts of the one baptized and the ones witnessing the baptism.
e. It also seals the truth of the coming of the Spirit and the joining of that person to the fellowship of body of Christ.
f. I cannot stress enough to you that if you have confessed Christ as Savior and Lord, if you have repented of sin and self-righteousness and are depending on and submitting to Christ alone – and yet you are not baptized – then the New Testament has exactly 1 example conforming to your life and confession. His reason was because he was dead moments after he believed. What is your excuse?
g. We cannot impose so much importance on baptism to make it a requirement for heaven… but we also cannot degrade its importance to the level of preference or convenience.
h. Listen very carefully for I will endeavor to be quite plain on the matter. If you are a believer on Christ that has not submitted yourself to baptism, then you have begun the race having tripped over the starting block.
i. The first thing Christ has commanded you to obey – you have failed to obey.
j. How can you say you are submitted to Him when you have not obeyed His first command?
k. As we end the service today – if you are a believer but have never been baptized or if you are a believer but weren’t baptized as a believer (aka you were baptized as an infant or false convert) then I implore you to seek me out and we will start the process of your obedience to the Lord.
4.) [Slide 23] The next item from the text that is of immeasurable importance is simply this, no sin is too great for the grace of God to break through.
a. Peter speaks to those who share the national shame of killing their own Messiah.
b. They committed regicide against their own King and attempted Deicide against their God.
c. And yet they received the gospel call of the apostles.
d. And as we’ve seen today – 3000 of them received the effectual call of God.
e. God forgave them for killing His Son.
f. My friends… with our sins… every single one of us nailed Him there.
g. But the gospel call still goes out to you.
h. There is no sin stuffed in your ears too dense to muffle out the call of God.
i. If God is calling you… you can come.
j. And that leads me to my final item.
5.) [Slide 24 (end)] Be saved from this wicked generation!
a. Your sin is not worth it my friends.
b. Your family isn’t worth it.
c. Your friends aren’t worth it.
d. Your self-righteous attempts to earn God’s love and favor have accomplished nothing for you.
e. All the penance in the world couldn’t change the fact that you killed the Lord of glory.
f. All the good works in the world couldn’t change the fact that God demands perfect and perpetual obedience.
g. There is nothing in this life worth losing enteral life to have.
h. And being granted a shack at the furthest outcropping of the furthest cliff from the Lord’s throne in the New Kingdom is better than the finest home on the grandest throne in the lake which burns with fire and Sulphur.
i. My friends…. DO NOT IGNORE ME.
j. Repent. Turn from your sin
k. And cry out in desperate dependance on the person and work of Christ as your Savior. Cry out in total submission to Him as your Lord.
l. Trust in and obey Him and Him only.
m. Be saved from this wicked generation.
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By Christopher FreemanTitle: Peter’s Pentecost Sermon: Application
Text: Acts 2:37-41
FCF: We often struggle when faced with conviction.
Prop: Because those who repent and welcome the message of truth receive the Spirit, we too must repent and believe the gospel.
Scripture Intro:
[Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 2.
Last week, Peter stood to respond to the questions and criticisms of the crowd who witnessed the pouring out of the Spirit of God upon the church.
Peter made a spectacular defense of Jesus the Nazarene being both the Messiah and the Lord of glory, which he said was proven by the prophetic words of David the Patriarch. He punctuated these statements indicting the Jews for piercing this One who was sent to save and rule them.
But last week, we kind of left things unsettled. We didn’t see Peter’s application and we didn’t see the crowd’s response. Today we will see just that and a bit more.
Let’s look at chapter 2, starting in verse 37. I’ll be reading form the Legacy Standard Bible today but you can follow along in the pew bible on page 1231 or in whatever version you prefer.
Transition:
Even though we will only cover 5 verses today, paradoxically, this sermon will be longer than last week’s which covered 22 verses. There are reasons for that – but all you need to know for now is that there is much here we need to uncover. Be sure to stick with me as well as you can this morning.
I.) Those convicted of sin can receive the Holy Spirit if they repent and believe on Jesus, so we must repent and believe the gospel. (37-39)
a. [Slide 2] 37 - Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart,
i. Luke says that when they heard this, when they heard that they were on the hook for piercing their Messiah and Lord, they were pierced to the heart. What does this expression mean?
ii. It means that they were deeply convicted. They were fearfully dismayed. They were wrecked. Fear and guilt overwhelmed them.
iii. Here is a question we must ask ourselves… did Peter’s mere words do this?
iv. Was Peter’s message especially moving?
v. In John 16:18, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit after He is glorified. He says that when the Spirit comes, He will convict the world.
1. To convict means to rebuke or reprove, it means to show the world to be in error. Showing it to be out of step with what is real or true. To convict is to prove beyond doubt that the world is wrong. But wrong about what?
2. Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and the judgment.
a. Concerning sin, the Spirit will reveal the depth of man’s sinfulness. It will be revealed to unbelievers how rebellious and utterly wretched they truly are before a Holy God.
b. Concerning righteousness, the Spirit will reveal the high and perfect standard that God requires for those He will accept into His Kingdom.
c. Concerning the judgment, the Spirit will reveal the truth about the judgment, that the Lord of glory will judge all men according to their deeds and all who are not found in the book of life will be cast into eternal death.
vi. Therefore, based on the teaching of the whole New Testament, we know what truly caused these Jews to be deeply affected by Peter’s sermon.
vii. It was not that Peter’s words here were especially powerful. Indeed, theology nerds could easily point out 5 or 6 key teachings about salvation that Peter omits.
viii. And although Peter does lay the charge of killing Jesus upon them – such an accusation might stir up anger as easily as it would stir up conviction. Such words could lead the proud to protest – “Was I the one that drove the nails in His hands and feet? Was I even in the crowd that day?”
ix. It is clear – that what has happened here – is the work of the Spirit of God to open the heart of the hearer to receive conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
x. But notice… they didn’t just feel bad. They weren’t simply distressed.
b. [Slide 3] And said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men, brothers, what should we do?”
i. Conviction of sin produces a desire to be vindicated. Conviction of righteousness produces a desire for grace. Conviction of judgment produces a desire for mercy.
ii. They ask the apostles – all of them – what should we do?
iii. Tell us is there anything we can do to escape the just rewards for our sins? Is there anything we can do to be pleasing to God?
c. [Slide 4] 38 – And Peter said to them, “Repent,
i. There is a movement today which would suggest that repentance is unnecessary to salvation.
ii. That you need not turn from sin in order to be saved.
iii. I have found that the reason this position is taken is because of an inaccurate understanding of repentance and what it means to believe or to have faith in Christ.
iv. In the New Testament, when people are called on to respond to the gospel, many times repentance and faith are used together. Several times only repentance is used – one of those times being right here in Acts 2. And several times only faith is used without repentance.
v. The most natural conclusion we can come to is that regardless of whether both terms are used, both terms are implied. Why? Because you cannot truly believe in the gospel without repenting of your sins and you cannot truly repent of your sins unless you truly believe the gospel.
vi. Repentance and Faith are two sides of the same coin. They are sides of the same command. This is the command to respond to the gospel. And both repentance and faith are gifts of God, given to enable us to be saved.
vii. Repentance though should be defined specifically, not because it can occur without faith, but because it expresses a particular side of faith.
viii. It is the faith that all our former ways, both of sin and self-righteous performance, are woefully inadequate to fulfill the demand of a Holy God upon our lives.
ix. Not only are they inadequate in and of themselves, but they are infinitely less than what Jesus the Messiah of God has offered as a substitute for us. He has both taken the penalty for sin and is perfectly and perpetually pleasing to the Father.
x. There is no amount of penance we can perform that is capable of dispelling the accumulated wickedness of our hearts, nor is there any amount of good works we can amass that would be near to the holy standard God demands.
xi. Repentance expresses the belief that compared to the person and work of Christ, I bring absolutely nothing of value to God whatsoever.
xii. Repentance is to turn from sin and self-righteousness.
d. [Slide 5] and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;
i. Although this statement can cause great confusion, when we understand what is being said here, we easily see Peter’s meaning.
ii. First, baptism is not a new concept to Jewish people. Not only did John the Baptist baptize many Jews prior to Jesus beginning his ministry, it was also common practice to baptize non-Jews who converted to Judaism. These individuals were called “proselytes.”
iii. Baptism then was synonymous to a change of direction. It meant to abandon one path and embrace another.
iv. John’s Baptism was for repentance and for the forgiveness of sins. As people were confessing their sin they were being baptized to signify and seal their washing away of the sins they confessed and are to walk out of the waters having abandoned those former ways.
v. John’s Baptism then on the surface doesn’t look that dissimilar from the baptism to which Peter refers. Except for two main differences.
vi. The first is that Peter commands that after repentance they should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
vii. What does it mean to do something in the name of another?
viii. It means to do it for the sake of another. Or in consideration of another. Or for the benefit of another.
ix. When we ask something in Jesus’ name, it is not with His authority that we ask it, rather we are asking God the Father to honor our requests based on His love for His Son. It is for His sake we ask these things. As He would answer His Son, we ask Him to answer us.
x. To be baptized for the sake of Christ then, is to be baptized or dedicated fully to the thing in which we are being baptized. Namely Jesus Christ.
xi. So that when we enter the waters of baptism in the name of Jesus, we enter them to identify with Him. We enter them to die to ourselves, to die to sin, to die with Him, to be buried and be risen again to walk in new life with Him living in us.
xii. And this entire baptism is for the forgiveness of our sins. Not in that entering into the raw sign do we somehow wash away sin itself, but rather the sign seals upon our hearts the reality that our sins are truly washed away for the sake of Christ for those who have called on His name. For His sake we have been forgiven.
xiii. What Peter says here then is not a works-based repentance and baptism that somehow leads to forgiveness, but rather the two-sided coin of repentance and faith demonstrated and sealed by the sacrament of baptism. A sacrament that both symbolizes and freshly applies the spiritual truth. That we have been washed clean by the blood of Christ. For we have been baptized for His sake.
xiv. Indeed, all who are baptized into Christ are baptized for His sake – for we are the reward for His Suffering. We are the bride he went through hell to secure.
xv. And it is only for Christ’s sake that any of us shall be passed over on that day of judgment.
e. [Slide 6] and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
i. This is the second aspect of this baptism which differs from John’s baptism.
ii. The construction of possession here could be read in several different ways.
iii. But the clear way intended by context is that the Holy Spirit is the gift.
iv. All who are baptized for the sake of Christ for forgiveness of sins will be given the gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
v. Notice here a precious truth. Even though every single one of them present that day have inherited the national shame of crucifying their own Messiah and Lord…
vi. They too can call on the name of that same Jesus and be saved.
vii. But is this promise only for those present today? Is this a one-time offer? What about friends and family back home? What about their children and those yet to be born?
f. [Slide 7] 39 – For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off
i. The gospel call is unlimited.
ii. Peter emphasizes here that the gospel is to be given to every Jew everywhere. Even if they have never lived in Judea their entire life. Even if they have never been to the temple. Even if they have never gone to a synagogue, the gospel call is to be given to all Jews.
iii. You might balk at these statements. Wait a second Chris- Peter doesn’t say anything about it only being for Jews here.
iv. Yes, but in the context of Acts it is quite clear that Peter has not quite understood the complete scope of the gospel call. Here at Pentecost, he is talking to Jews and anticipates the gospel being the next step in Judaism. Meaning that the most likely scenario would be Jews being baptized for the sake of Jesus and into the final and best version of Judaism.
v. For our purposes, knowing what we know, and being who we are, we can take Peter’s words at their fullest value, even if he didn’t mean them that way.
vi. The gospel call is unlimited. It must be given to every single boy, girl, woman and man regardless of age, ethnicity, mental capacity, social status, religion, language, political party, or any other ways we divide ourselves.
vii. That is our human responsibility. The gospel call goes out to all. But…
g. [Slide 8] As many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
i. This is not a quote but rather an allusion. In Joel 2, where Peter ended earlier, he ended in the middle of a verse.
ii. All who call on the name of Yahweh will be saved… even among the survivors whom Yahweh calls.
iii. What does this teach us?
iv. The gospel call we give is unlimited. But the effectual call God gives… is particular.
v. Again, we are confronted with God’s Sovereignty juxtaposed against human responsibility.
vi. Peter makes it clear that the gospel call must ring out to all people.
vii. But as a subset of that group, as the call is given there is another call that God gives.
viii. Romans 8 tells us of this call. Whom the Lord predestines he also calls, whom he calls he justifies, whom he justifies he glorifies.
ix. The gospel call is given to all according to the responsibility of men to issue that call. But the Lord ultimately determines whom He summons to Himself.
x. This does not eliminate our responsibility to issue the call to all. Rather it empowers our gospel call to reach those whom the Lord is calling unto Himself.
xi. In this we maintain that the gospel results are not up to us. Instead, it is merely bearing witness to any and all what the Lord has done.
xii. The Lord will call to Himself those whom He wills.
h. [Slide 9] Passage Truth: So, Luke to Theophilus explains the true nature of what man can do when he experiences conviction. What can man do? How can man escape conviction? How can man escape the just rewards for His sin? How can man hope to be acceptable to a Holy God? What shall we do? Luke through Peter confirms to Theophilus that there is a way to be forgiven and to receive the gift of the Spirit of God. Even for those who have sinned gravely. They must repent and they must be washed in and raised up into Jesus Christ.
i. Passage Application: Theophilus then must renew His commitment, his allegiance, his trust and his hope in Christ alone for salvation. He must renew his abandonment of His former sins and his former efforts to earn the good pleasure of God. He must instead fall on the mercy of God and depend on and submit to the Lord Jesus Christ, for it for Christ’s sake that he has been baptized into a new life.
j. [Slide 10] Broader Biblical Truth: Is this not the sum of the whole of the gospel? Is this not the sharpest edge of the sword of the Word of God? Does this not cut to the bone? Such teaching is not relegated to the New Testament either. What is Israel called to do when God threatens them with judgment? Are they not called to repent? Are they not called to trust and obey God? God has always offered the hope of forgiveness and His aid to those who repent and trust Him to the extent that they obey Him.
k. Broader Biblical Application: So, CBC have you felt the sting of conviction? Has the Spirit of God pricked you to the heart? Are you feeling the weight of your sin and the promise of judgment? Are you not fearful of the Lord of glory returning to judge you for your deeds? Do you not see the Holy and perpetually perfect obedience the Lord requires for those who would enter His Kingdom? Do you wonder what you must do? You must realize that this could never be you. Would you pay penance for the rest of your days and would you do good works for a thousand lifetimes you would never be perfect as God is perfect. You would never be Holy as God is holy. You would never conform to the standard that God has set for any to enter into His Kingdom. What should you do? Turn from your sin and your self-righteousness. Turn from your natural belief that you are good and able to please God. Turn from your unbelieving family and friends. Turn from your culture. Turn from your worldview. Turn from your values. And swear allegiance, dependance, and submission to Jesus Christ alone. Then and only then will you escape the coming judgment of a Holy God.
Transition:
[Slide 11 (blank)] What a glorious promise! Not only is this what we should do, but we will receive the Spirit of God if we do this. Amazing. But what will they do with what Peter said? And if they do it, will God honor Peter’s words?
II.) Those who come out from the world and welcome the truth are added to the church, so we must repent and believe the gospel (40-41)
a. [Slide 12] 40 – And with many other words he solemnly bore witness and kept on exhorting them saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation!”
i. Notice that Peter did not win them over immediately.
ii. What lessons might we learn from this?
iii. They were pierced to the heart. They were ready to act. They wanted to be rescued from their certain doom.
iv. Nevertheless, the exhortation to repentance and belief on Jesus and the promise of forgiveness and the Spirit… was not enough.
v. Truly the hearts of men are depraved, hardened to the gospel of Christ. The unbelief of natural man is strong against even the message of the truth spoken with signs and wonders.
vi. Their conviction produced in them a desire to be forgiven but not a desire to repent. Not a desire to devote their lives to Jesus. They did not want the punishment of their sin – but had no intention of following Christ so easily.
vii. Nevertheless, Peter endured. He continued with many words bearing witness to them of all that Christ had done and accomplished for them.
viii. And kept warning them, exhorting them, telling them what?
ix. To be saved from this crooked generation.
x. Be saved from those who are telling you that you can be righteous enough. Be saved from those who teach that God doesn’t care about your sin. Be saved from those who tell you that this life is all there is and there is no resurrection. Be saved from those who emphasize nation over deity.
xi. Abandon the wisdom of this age, the sins your cling to, and the righteousness you are trying to earn.
xii. Instead run to Christ.
b. [Slide 13] 41 – So then, those who had received his word
i. This little phrase clues us into a couple things.
ii. First, not all who were present there with the apostles responded to the gospel.
iii. We will talk about the numbers in a bit but saying “those who responded” indicates that there were others and perhaps several more who did not respond.
iv. Secondly, responding is receiving the words that were preached.
v. To receive here means to welcome or to recognize, or to acknowledge. It describes those who have not only felt conviction for sin, but were convinced of the truth of Peter’s words.
vi. Although much of salvation is a mystery to us, what we do know is that God gifts both repentance and faith to us. This means that God enables those whom He is calling to respond to His call.
vii. But again, that does not eliminate the human responsibility to respond. And that is what we see here. We see humans welcoming and heartily receiving the message of the truth.
c. [Slide 14] Were baptized;
i. We assume of course this is the baptism that Peter spoke of earlier.
ii. They are baptized into Christ, for the sake of Christ. A water baptism symbolizing and sealing the spiritual truth of being washed and forgiven of sin.
d. [Slide 15] And that day there were added about three thousand souls.
i. Here we see the effect of the gospel on this crowd.
ii. First, we see that about 3000 souls were added that day. To put this in perspective, a conservative estimate is that on any given Pentecost during the first century, there were no doubt in excess of 200,000 people in the city of Jerusalem. Some estimates go as high as half a million.
1. Considering the tight streets and where they could have reasonably been heard by a large crowd, we know that many in the city that day would not have heard the message of Peter.
2. Nevertheless, it is likely that 3000 was a drop in the bucket of those who heard the message Peter gave.
3. I don’t say this to cheapen the work of God at all. Please don’t misunderstand.
4. Instead, I say this because many modern evangelistic endeavors are designed to try to replicate Pentecost. People expect thousands of people to come to Christ in these evangelistic endeavors.
5. God is not beyond doing this – but putting Pentecost into perspective helps us to affirm that even in this powerful moving of the Spirit where many are saved… the narrow way is still found by very few and the broad way is pursued by the vast majority.
6. Even at this Pentecost… even with the Spirit’s empowering… this is still true.
iii. Secondly, the terms “souls” and “were added” need defining.
1. Souls is an interesting term because it can mean both soul and life.
a. Oftentimes it refers to the immaterial part of man inherited by God breathing life into Adam.
b. Man is both body and soul.
c. And soul seems to be the truest part of him, although neither will be eternally separated from one another for any human being.
d. Is this a confirmation that these people were genuinely saved? It seems to be.
2. Were added – were added to what?
a. The book of life? No, it cannot be the book of life for the names are already written in that book. The scriptures never speaks of someone’s name being added to the book of life. They are either there or they aren’t.
b. To God’s family? This could be. Before we are converted or justified, we are children of Satan, of our father the devil. We are in the family of the serpent. God adopts us out of that family and into His when we are untied to Christ by faith.
c. More likely this means that they were added to the assembly of 120 believers. They joined the visible church. Which has now grown by 2,500% in one day.
e. [Slide 16] Passage Truth: Lukes second point, which serves as a fulfillment of his first point, shows us those who came out from their own generation and welcomed the gospel message, were saved and added to the disciples. And although Luke does not say it overtly – they received the Holy Spirit.
f. Passage Application: So Theophilus must endure in his faith having received the Spirit himself. He must continue to repent and believe the gospel as he did when he first heard it and all the more now that he has heard Luke’s ongoing testimony of its truth.
g. [Slide 17] Broader Biblical Truth: Is this truth found in scripture? We see many times the truth offered. Those who repent and trust and obey the Lord are rescued. Do we see this happen? Adam and Eve are the first examples. Have you ever considered the fact that Adam named his wife Eve, which means mother of all living, right after God said that he would return to the dust of the earth when he dies? God promised before that a seed that would be from the woman that would crush the head of the serpent. In faith, Adam believed God’s promise to send one who would give life. Who would break the curse of death. Adam believed it and stamped his belief on his wife, who would be the instrument God used for his faith to be made sight. Then God clothed them in animal skins. He cast aside their inadequate coverings and gave them a new covering. My friends… God is faithful to forgive, restore, and transform all who repent and trust and obey Him. It has been true since the first two humans fell… when there was only one law to keep. And it is true now when so many are hardened to gospel.
h. Broader Biblical Application: So, CBC this does not stand as a vague promise from which we have not seen any fruit. Instead, we see time and time again this happening. God is faithful to forgive, restore, and transform all who turn from their sin and self-righteousness, and call on the name of Jesus. All who depend on Him and submit to His authority. All who cry out to Him in desperate dependance… These are the ones who will receive the Spirit of God and be freed to live for Him. Both now and forevermore. Is the Lord calling you today? Repent my friends. And rely on and swear allegiance to Jeus Christ alone.
Conclusion:
So, CBC what have we learned today and how then shall we respond?
[Slide 18] Luke has given two truths. They are, once again, correlating truths. The first expresses a promise that the second fulfills. The first is that all who desire to free themselves of the conviction of the Spirit of God must repent of their sin and swear allegiance to and dependance on Christ. If they do this, they will receive the gift of the Spirit of God along with forgiveness. The second truth shows that those who did reject their former lives and receive with joy the truth of Christ crucified for sinners, did that day receive the Spirit and join the family of God. Combining these truths together we see that God’s gift of the indwelling of His Spirit, His very presence – is given to those who turn from their sin and their self-righteousness and depend on and devote themselves fully to Jesus Christ and Christ alone.
[Slide 19] So, for us how then shall we respond? All must respond generally in the same way. We must repent and we must call on the name of Jesus. For those who are already believers, this must be a continual repentance and a continual call. For those who are not yet converted – they must sever their ties to sin and this world. They must separate themselves from their allegiance to themselves, their earthly hopes and dreams, and must pledge their unconditional surrender and allegiance to Jesus and Jesus alone. And they must do this publicly with the sign and seal of baptism.
Based on this truth and this application for us CBC, there are several ways that this message impacts us today.
1.) [Slide 20] The first way it impacts us is in our presentation of the gospel to a dying world. My assertion is that based on this text, presenting the gospel accurately to sinners is incredibly important.
a. Peter’s message correlated perfectly to the message of Joel.
b. Peter’s message correlated perfectly to the prophets of the Old Testament.
c. Peter’s message correlated perfectly to the message of John the Baptist and Jesus Himself.
d. We should be very careful not to change our presentation of the gospel message, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
e. While it would be impossible for me to address every single erring gospel presentation, I can point out a few poplar ones that miscommunicate the gospel call.
i. The gospel call is not summarized in asking Jesus to save us from hell or even from sin.
1. This would be an example of an insufficient call to the gospel.
2. Where is repentance?
3. Where is the Lordship of Christ?
4. Did Peter instruct the people to ask Jesus to save them? Or to simply believe that He is the Savior?
ii. The gospel call is not summarized by asking Jesus into our heart.
1. Indeed, this is worse than the first because it means almost nothing.
2. What does it mean to have him in our heart in the first place?
3. Where is repentance?
4. Where is submission and allegiance?
5. Further compounding the problem, this message is often given to children. I’m not sure I could quickly explain what it means to have Jesus in my heart… much less a child to explain what exactly that means.
iii. The gospel call should not include a call to admit that you are a sinner.
1. In some ways this is a good thing to call someone to recognize.
2. But Peter did not ask the people there if they would admit they were sinners. He simply declared that they were sinners.
3. Admitting that you are a sinner is not the same as repenting of your sin.
4. The gospel does not ONLY call us to recognize that we have failed the Lord or that we are guilty of sin.
5. What is so drastic about the gospel call is that is calls us to HATE our sin and to abandon it.
6. Admitting I am a sinner is easy and can be done by any natural man. Many who are unbelievers admit they are not perfect. For no one is perfect.
7. Turning from sin is a gift of God, a supernatural ability that God gives to those whom He is calling to Himself.
8. Therefore, we should stop telling sinners to admit they are sinners. Instead, we should tell them to turn from their sin.
iv. The gospel call should not put an equal’s sign between faith and agreeing to facts.
1. Belief on Christ is not the same as believing what has been said of Christ.
2. Belief on Christ or in Christ includes believing what has been said about Christ but also dependance on and submitting to Him as Lord and Savior.
3. Oftentimes when we issue the gospel call we inadvertently lead sinners to believe that if they ascribe to a certain set of facts then agreeing to those facts saves them. This sells them a false gospel.
4. For Demons too believe the same facts that we tell sinners to believe.
5. Instead, it is not the mere belief that these facts are true – but rather that these facts are what we hang our entire eternal lives upon. That we have abandoned our lives and crucified ourselves in order to follow Christ no matter the cost.
6. This is what it means to believe in Christ. It is to depend on Him for salvation and submit to Him as Lord. With no exceptions.
v. Generally speaking If the gospel call is easy for the sinner, simple for the sinner, or demands little of the sinner – then you are probably doing it wrong.
vi. The gospel call is a call to radically separate yourself from all you hold dear and fully and completely surrender to Christ. If the people we share the gospel with do not sense the heavy cost of the gospel call… it is likely they have not heard a true gospel call.
2.) [Slide 21] Not to undo what I have just said but to be sure we do not pendulum swing too far, while recognizing that the way we issue the gospel call is important, we must also recognize that God is calling with us as we call.
a. Therefore, even our messy and broken presentations of the gospel can be used by God to effectively call His own to Himself.
b. Perhaps if you think back to the moment that you responded to the gospel, you would say that you responded to one of the gospel calls I have pointed out was lacking.
c. Experience does not invalidate the truth. The call you were given was not proven correct simply because you repented and believed on Christ through it.
d. Instead, it verifies the truth of this passage that God is the one who ultimately is effectually calling His own to Himself through the gospel call of His church.
e. I hope that this gives you comfort, knowing as you look back on your gospel calls that you have no doubt given a few stinkers and a few clunkers.
f. Do not be discouraged. God has not given the fate of those who would respond solely to our call.
g. Make your gospel call as close to the call of the scriptures as you can – but know that God is the one speaking through you when people respond with God-given repentance and faith.
My three final applications to the text today are of the utmost importance. Not that the previous two were inconsequential, but to these three I cannot impress upon you too little comfort and too little warning. If you have paid no attention up to this point… start now or may God be merciful to you.
3.) [Slide 22] Water baptism is neither optional nor a matter of convenience or preference.
a. Baptism has always been intricately bound to the gospel. The instance of a person who is saved but not baptized would be a completely foreign concept in the New Testament.
b. Many times, we see people in Acts immediately baptized upon confessing Christ. Today, for fear of inadvertently authenticating a false convert, we tend to look for spiritual fruit to reflect a real conversion to Christ.
c. But this should not indicate to any that water baptism of believers is optional.
d. The solemn truth is that baptism is a sign and seal of the spiritual truth of identification with Christ and the washing away of sin. It both symbolizes the spiritual truth and seals that truth on the hearts of the one baptized and the ones witnessing the baptism.
e. It also seals the truth of the coming of the Spirit and the joining of that person to the fellowship of body of Christ.
f. I cannot stress enough to you that if you have confessed Christ as Savior and Lord, if you have repented of sin and self-righteousness and are depending on and submitting to Christ alone – and yet you are not baptized – then the New Testament has exactly 1 example conforming to your life and confession. His reason was because he was dead moments after he believed. What is your excuse?
g. We cannot impose so much importance on baptism to make it a requirement for heaven… but we also cannot degrade its importance to the level of preference or convenience.
h. Listen very carefully for I will endeavor to be quite plain on the matter. If you are a believer on Christ that has not submitted yourself to baptism, then you have begun the race having tripped over the starting block.
i. The first thing Christ has commanded you to obey – you have failed to obey.
j. How can you say you are submitted to Him when you have not obeyed His first command?
k. As we end the service today – if you are a believer but have never been baptized or if you are a believer but weren’t baptized as a believer (aka you were baptized as an infant or false convert) then I implore you to seek me out and we will start the process of your obedience to the Lord.
4.) [Slide 23] The next item from the text that is of immeasurable importance is simply this, no sin is too great for the grace of God to break through.
a. Peter speaks to those who share the national shame of killing their own Messiah.
b. They committed regicide against their own King and attempted Deicide against their God.
c. And yet they received the gospel call of the apostles.
d. And as we’ve seen today – 3000 of them received the effectual call of God.
e. God forgave them for killing His Son.
f. My friends… with our sins… every single one of us nailed Him there.
g. But the gospel call still goes out to you.
h. There is no sin stuffed in your ears too dense to muffle out the call of God.
i. If God is calling you… you can come.
j. And that leads me to my final item.
5.) [Slide 24 (end)] Be saved from this wicked generation!
a. Your sin is not worth it my friends.
b. Your family isn’t worth it.
c. Your friends aren’t worth it.
d. Your self-righteous attempts to earn God’s love and favor have accomplished nothing for you.
e. All the penance in the world couldn’t change the fact that you killed the Lord of glory.
f. All the good works in the world couldn’t change the fact that God demands perfect and perpetual obedience.
g. There is nothing in this life worth losing enteral life to have.
h. And being granted a shack at the furthest outcropping of the furthest cliff from the Lord’s throne in the New Kingdom is better than the finest home on the grandest throne in the lake which burns with fire and Sulphur.
i. My friends…. DO NOT IGNORE ME.
j. Repent. Turn from your sin
k. And cry out in desperate dependance on the person and work of Christ as your Savior. Cry out in total submission to Him as your Lord.
l. Trust in and obey Him and Him only.
m. Be saved from this wicked generation.